Spring attachment for cribs



Aug. 11, 1942. H- w- NEUNMHERZ y 2,292,465

SPRING ATTACHMENT FOR CRIBS Filed July- 3l, 1940 Patented Aug. ll, 1942 UNITED srmlis PArl-:NT oFFIcE 2,292,465 SPRING ATTACHMENT CRIBS Herbert W.'Neunherz, Gardner, Mass.` Application July 31, 1940, Serial No. 348,746

8V Claims. Y(Cl. 5-207) This'invention relates primarily to spring attachments for cribs, but the invention may also be applied to other forms of beds, cats, etc.

The objects of the invention include'the provision of means whereby the spring frame may be held securely in place without the use of any tools, bolts, or other loose fasteners; the provision of means to automatically insure correct location of a foot-trip with relation to a crib dropside, said means including a side of the spring frame in combination with supporting elements secured to the crib frame, so that the side of the spring frame forms a rigid spacer forjthe crib posts and prevents incorrect relative location of the foot-trip and drop-side; the provision f means whereby the'spring frame may be easily and quickly attached to the "crib frame merely by approximately locating a single corner of the spring frame with relation to a special, new and improved hook-shaped element located on the crib frame, pivoting the spring frame about said hook substantially on a vertical axis'to lo-v cate a second hook with relation to the spring frame, and then pivoting the latter down on a horizontal axis thru said hooks, there being a pair of brackets Shaped to automatically receive,

, locate, and hold the side of the spring frame opposite to the hooks, it being pointed out, however, that the spring frame may be held vertically and easily set down on both hooks at once, if desired; the yprovision of means as aforesaid in which a single frame side member is provided with a pair of spaced round apertures for the reception of the hooks, which are fiat, so that said side member alone is depended upon for spacing and holding the crib posts adjacent the crib drop-side, and so that the vspring frame need be located only approximately with the apertures over the flat hooks, in order to connect the same accurately to the crib; and the provision of means as aforesaid in which the spring frame Imay be quickly `and easily attached to av crib without the necessity of watching -both ends of the crib or spring or `runningthe chance of bending or otherwise damaging `the spring frame or the st-ampings.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing,inwhich V Fig. 1 is Va top plan View of a spring frame in position for use, in accordance with this invention; Y

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 2--2'of 55 Fig. l, showing a vertical position of the spring frame in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a top plan of the hinged end of the spring frame and support, as indicated by the arrow 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan of the opposite end of the support Vfor the spring frame, looking in the dif rection of the arrow 4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is va side view showing a support on which the free end of the spring frame rests when in position for use; and Y Fig. 6 is an end view looking in the direction of the'arrow 6 inFig. 1. e e

With the above objects in view, this invention is applied to the frame I0 of a crib or bed. On the inside of one end of the said frame there are brackets II screwed or otherwise secured to the frame I0 'projecting inwardly therefrom for a short distance, and then inwardly in a direction parallel to the frame I0 to form a plate I2. On the inside of this plate I2 is a hook I3 which has at a distance from the plate I2 an outer curved surface I4 and an innercurved surface I5, as shown, together with an upper end I6 which is rounded oii" almost to a point for the purpose of receiving the spring frame. Between these curves I4 and I5 and the rectangular plate I2 there exists a sunken surface or depression I1 which is bounded by two upwardly extending surfaces to receive a flange of the frame 20 of the bed spring.

At each corner at the other end of the frame I0, there is a bracket I8 provided with a rightangled upwardly projecting portion I9 which has a notched surface on which the frame2 will rest when the -parts are in position for use, see

Fig. 5. A

The frame 20 is like an `ordinary spring frame with springs 2| indicating the bed spring. It is of sheet-metal and of rectangular shape. The sides and ends are conveniently of angle iron secured together in any usual way. However, the flange 22, constituting a part of what may be called a pivotable angle iron, is provided with the two ends 23, each provided with a round perforation 24. These two perforations constitute the'means by which the spring frame is connected with thehooks I3 yand therefore with the crib frame. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the crib frame can be brought down in vertical position until the perforations 24 encounter the hook ends I6 of which the upper surfacesrare curved or slanted, as above stated. Infact, in Y placing the spring frame,it is located'in vertical position with'one hook I3 in its perforationwith the spring extending diagonally. This supports the frame and it can be swung about the hook as a pivot until the other hook in that side is in place. The spring frame is then swung down until it touches the end of the plate I2 and being supported by two of these hooks it can be swung over them, as the curved arrow indicates in Fig. 2, the curved surfaces I4 and I 5 guiding the edge of the perforations 24, in a combined pivoting and sliding action, until the other end of the spring frame is supported on the bracket I8 behind the projection I9, in the notch, as shown in Fig. 5, yand also in Fig. 2. It will be seen that in applying the spring frame, the round perforations 24 allow some misalignment with the hook point I6, :and yet the frame will be vcorrectly positioned, as long as the point I6 enters the perforation at all.

The diameter of the perforations 24 is substantially the same as the distance between the sunken-surface I'I and the bottom ofY the hook directly beneath the sunken surface, so that when the angle-iron 22 is in position, as shown `ifi-full lines in Fig. 2, there is no play between the hooks and the iron and the hooks act as a lateral lock for the iron, just as though the perforation 24 closely fitted the hook in slot form, instead of being round. The sunken surface I I firmly positions the iron 22 againstthe end ofthe curve I5 and therefore it is seen that the spring frame 2U is firmly located and cannot be removedrfrom the hooks, except by swinging -it up about the surface I'I as a pivot.

On the other hand,however, when the spring frame is to be removed, as by lifting the opposite end thereof, the right hand edge of flange 22- will pivot on the depression II and no upward sliding action of 'the frame will occur on the curved surfaces I4 and I5. Hence, in the absence depression 'I'I, the parts would bind, and it would be very difficult to remove the frame. Therefore, it may be said that the depression II corrects the pivot point of the flange 22 with respect to hook I3, for easy removal, and provides for the same, even though the surface I4 and the top of the plate I2 (as at I l) provide for rigid locking of the frame. It will thus be seen thatthe depression Il contributes to the success of operation of the device.

The projection I9 is a, simple bracket which has a vertical surface 26 topped by an inwardly curved surface 21 to help guide the angle iron into position, as shown in Fig. 5, where it has no play and provides a rigid structure. This is a rigid frame of angle iron which, when in place, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, helps to makethe crib frame I Il rigid. But the elasticity ofthe hook'IQ is relied upon to allow thespring to be put exactly in place and to keep it there. This way of placing the spring frame obviates the usual necessity of holding the heavy spring frame in the hands in an awkward position out'nearly at arms length.

The spring frame can be removed very easily by turning it up to a vertical position and merely lifting the frame 01T the hooks I3. It involves and allows no side motion and does not include anything that can getout ofV adjustment after it is 'placed in position. It is entirely without screws, or stove bolts, that have to be changed or adjusted whenever the spring frame is removed and applied.

Further, it is an yimportant'feature that-perforations 24are locatedin afsingle rigid metal member,I so'thatthere can Vbe'no `variationbe tween them. These perforations are punched on a single machine, thusl being spaced the same in all frames, and this means that once having attached the spring frame, the crib posts are thereby exactly spaced and cannot get out of position, and the foot trip on the member 2U will always correctly register with the drop-side. It will be seen, therefore, that only the rigid member 20 is depended on to space the posts, and the rest of the frame is not depended upon for this purpose.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In abed or crib, the combination of a spring frame having an element substantially normal to the spring surface of the frame; with a main frame having an upwardly directed projection and a supporting surface adjacent thereto, and means in said element adapted to receive said projection, said spring frame being adapted to be placed in vertical position with said element resting on said supporting surf/ace and said projection entering saidprojection receiving means, whereby said spring frame may be swung downwardly about said projection as a pivot from said vertical to a horizontal position.

2. A bed or crib as recited in claiml, including a depression between said projection and said supporting surface, said element seating in said depression in horizontal position of said spring frame.

3. A bed or crib as recited in claim 1 wherein said projection extends above said supporting surface and said projection receiving means comprises an aperture in said element.

4. A bed or crib as recited in claim 1 wherein said projection is generally at and pointed and said projection receiving means comprises a rounded aperture having a dimension substantially equal to that portion of said projectionV engaging the sides of the aperture in final seated position of the spring frame, whereby the latter will be held against shifting movement parallel to said element.

5. A bed or crib as recited in claim 1, including a depression between said projection and said supporting surface, said depression being of a width substantially equal'to the thickness of said element, the latter being adapted to be seated in said depression in horizontal position of said spring frame, whereby the latteris held against shifting movement transverse to said element.

6. A hinge piece for the spring frameof a crib or the like comprising a iiat base through which it is'secured to a crib frame, a projection from said base at right angles extending inwardly, and a iiat member at the end of said projection and parallel to the base, said flat member having at its extreme inner end a hook shaped with its point projecting upward, and curved on its outer and inner surfaces to guide said spring frame, the latter having a perforation for receiving the hook, so that the spring frame can be moved from a vertical to a horizontal position yabout said hook.

7. In a bed or crib, vthe combination with a supporting frame having two bracketson one side extending inwardly, each having a top surface provided with a depression and Aanvupwardly extending hook adjacent to the depression, said hook having a. downwardly inclined guiding surface, of a spring frame of angle irons,'an angle .iron on one side having perforations through its vertical ange and' adapted to'receivesaid'hooks so that the latter, in contact with the edges of said perforations in the vertical ange, guide the spring frame from vertical to horizontal position and keep the spring frame in xed position, said angle iron having an edge seating in said depression when said spring frame is in horizontal position.

8. In a bed or crib, a spring frame comprising angle irons, a main frame having a pair of spaced vertically extending flat hooks, said hooks widening downwardly, and a pair of spaced generally rounded apertures in a vertical ange of an angle iron of said spring frame, a diameter of eachv therein.

HERBERT W. NEUNHERZ. 

